Maintaining Status: F-1 & J-1 visas

About Visas

Have questions about visas—what they are, how to get one, how to keep your status and more? You’re in the right place.

Here we’ve compiled the information you will need related to visas. First, we share some information for both F-1 and J-1 status students, then we break it down into the specifics for F-1 status students and J-1 status students.

For All International Students

Maintaining Status

Nonimmigrant F-1 or J-1 status indicates a legal condition granted to a visa holder by an immigration officer at the port of entry into the U.S. F-1 and J-1 visa holders maintain this status by following DHS regulations that detail the responsibilities unique to their status. The immigration documents (I-20 and DS-2019) issued to you to first establish your eligibility to apply for a U.S. visa now serve as a proof of the responsibilities with which you must comply to remain legally present in the U.S. Maintaining a valid I-20 or DS-2019 in your possession at all times is a significant part of maintaining status; without a valid document, you have no legal means to be in F-1 or J-1 student status.

After arriving in Cleveland, there are some steps to ensure that you get off to a smooth start. These steps are mandatory in order to properly maintain your F-1 or J-1 student visa status, so be certain to review them all carefully.

J-1 students will be issued a DS-2019, either from CWRU or their sponsor, depending on the terms of their exchange program.

Whether the DS-2019 is issued by CWRU or a sponsor, a J-1 student is considered to be maintaining status if he/she:

Reports their address

Keep their documents valid

Enrolls full-time every fall and spring

Maintains health insurance that meets the minimum requirements

Works only with permission

For students who are in possession of a DS-2019 issued by CWRU, International Student Services (ISS) will be responsible for certain tasks to maintain their visa status.

For students who are in possession of a DS-2019 issued by a sponsor, the sponsor, not ISS will be responsible for certain tasks to maintain their visa status. ISS is happy to serve as a resource for all students; however, it will be necessary to consult with the sponsor on all matters pertaining to visa status such as registration, work authorization, DS-2019 extensions, etc.

Having a Visa

A visa is a sticker stamped on a page in your passport by a consular officer. Once you have a visa stamped in your passport, you need it only when you’re entering the U.S. The dates on the visa determine when it may be used to enter the U.S. It’s essentially like a key that opens a door for a defined period of time. If you leave the U.S. and then wish to return, you must have a valid, unexpired visa stamped in your passport. If your visa has expired, you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. consular office abroad before being allowed to gain re-entry to the U.S.